FA (First Advantage) Moat Score: 4/10 (As of Aug. 19, 2026)

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FA First Advantage Corp FA
60 GF Score
Price $20.97
GF Value $25.35
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 3 Warning Signs
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What is First Advantage Moat Score?

First Advantage FA +3.20% 60 Moat Score is 4 as of Aug. 19, 2026. GuruFocus rates FA with a GF Score™ of 60/100 and a GF Value™ of $25.35 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,090 Business Services companies, First Advantage ranks better than 92.57% on this metric.

First Advantage has the Moat Score of 4, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

First Advantage has Narrow Moat: First Advantage Corp has a discernible but modest moat due to its specialized services and some customer switching costs. However, it lacks strong brand strength, significant regulatory barriers, and durable cost advantages, limiting its competitive position to a narrow moat.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes First Advantage might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.


First Advantage  (NAS:FA) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

First Advantage Moat Score Related Terms


FA vs MMS, ABM, CMPR: Moat Score Comparison

For the Specialty Business Services subindustry, First Advantage's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


First Advantage Moat Score vs Business Services Industry

For the Business Services industry and Industrials sector, First Advantage's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where First Advantage's Moat Score falls into.


FA
60GF Score
First Advantage Corp FA
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 4 mean?
First Advantage (FA) has a Moat Score of 4 as of Aug. 19, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, First Advantage ranks #81 out of 1090 companies in the Business Services industry, placing it in the top 7.4%.
Is First Advantage's Moat Score too high?
First Advantage's current Moat Score is 4. Based on the distribution chart, First Advantage ranks #81 out of 1090 companies in the Business Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, First Advantage has a GF Score™ of 60/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does First Advantage's Moat Score compare to MMS and ABM?
According to the Business Services industry distribution chart, First Advantage ranks #81 out of 1090 companies for Moat Score. This places First Advantage in the top 7% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Business Services company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Business Services industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. First Advantage's current Moat Score is 4. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is First Advantage stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, First Advantage (FA) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $25.35, compared to a current price of $20.97 — trading 17.3% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 4. First Advantage's overall GF Score™ is 60/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For First Advantage (FA), the current Moat Score is 4 as of Aug. 19, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is First Advantage (FA) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, First Advantage stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $20.97 is trading 17.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of $25.35. GuruFocus considers First Advantage to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for FA:

  • Moat Score: 4
  • GF Value™: $25.35 vs. price of $20.97 (17.3% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 60/100 with 3 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the FA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


First Advantage Business Description

Other Exchanges 0MS:Germany
Address 1 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30328
First Advantage Corp is a provider of software and data in the Human Resources technology industry. The company provides end-to-end identity solutions, criminal background screening, credential verifications, drug and health screening, and continuous risk monitoring. It combines AI-powered proprietary technology platforms with proprietary data, primary source data, and third-party data. Its reportable segments are First Advantage Americas, First Advantage International, and Sterling. The company generates maximum revenue from the Sterling segment, which provides similar services as compared to First Advantage's Americas and International segments on a global basis. Geographically, the company generates the majority of its revenue from the United States.
60GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$20.97
Price
$25.35
GF Value